The Learn2Think Young Journalist Prize: a Competition for 8-11 year olds

​This year, the Learn2Think Foundation has teamed up with the Guardian Foundation and The Week Junior to launch the first ever journalism competition for children 8-9 and 10-11 to have their voices heard, as the 'Truth Detectives' of their generation. See the article in The Week Junior here.

The prize: in both age categories, to win a laptop to continue their writing as well as 6 months subscription to The Week Junior for them and a year's subscription for their school.

The challenge: to write a column of up to 500 words on a subject that matters to them, and could make a difference in their community.Use your powers of persuasion, observation and research and think like a journalist. It could be things that inspire them, that make them afraid, that make them look at the world in a different way.

​It can be any topic. We want to get them thinking critically for themselves, so that they can start to identify misinformation, develop a reasoned argument and give voice to their own unique thoughts and opinions.

The winner: will be announced on the UN International Day for Tolerance, 16th November 2017. Entries are due by October 23rd 2017, to info@learn2think.org.uk. The competition is part of the 2017 marking of the International Day of Tolerance, highlighting the importance of understanding fact versus opinion, knowledge versus bias and communicating important stories to each other.

Judges:Executive Director at the Guardian Foundation, the Editor of the Week Junior, the Chair of the Learn2Think Foundation, and the CEO of SAPERE.

REMEMBER:1. Be passionate and opinionated Choose a subject you feel strongly about, and then work on communicating that passion to your readers. 2. Start with what you know You will probably write a stronger piece if you have some expertise in or experience of your subject.3. Choose your topic wiselyExamples could include: What can children do to make real change in their own community? What are you most afraid of and why? What do you think you can learn from the older generations? What does your family do that all families should do? What is tolerance to you, and why is it important? 4. Do your research Remember that while a strong argument is important, so are facts - the WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? HOW? and WHY? Your task is to persuade others, so you need to make the strongest possible case for your opinion – strong enough to persuade your opponents. The best pieces consider the opposite position's best argument, then knock it down with an even better argument. That takes work. 5. Show your work Some of what you write will be your opinion. The internet is awash with rumours, gossip and inaccuracies, which makes credibility all the more important to readers. If you are claiming something as fact or quoting someone else, show us how you found it out. Writing about a government report? Link to it. Quoting the prime minister? Link to the source. Referring to old news stories? Find the link. The more you can show the workings of your research, the better.

We look forward to welcoming your entry by e-mailing info@learn2think.org.uk or uploading to learn2think.org.uk, no later than 16th October 2017.

The Learn2Think Young Journalist Prize is open to children aged 8-9 and 10-11 at the time they enter

The Award is not open to employees or agencies of the Learn2Think Foundation, Guardian News & Media Limited (“GNM”), its group companies or their family members, or anyone else connected with the creation or administration of the Award.

We look forward to welcoming entries in PDF format at learn2thinkfoundation.com no later than midnight on 16th October 2017. Entries received after this deadline will not be processed.

No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.

The Learn2Think Foundation reserves the right to not process entries with illegible application forms or those that do not include the correct amount of entered material.

Entries must be the original work of the person responsible for the entry. Any evidence of plagiarism may result in the entrant being disqualified.

By submitting an entry, you confirm that you have the right to enter and have obtained all and any consents, permissions and authorisations that may be necessary (whether from your school, parent, guardian or otherwise) in order for you to enter.

Entries must be in English and entrants may submit only one entry.

Judging and the prizes:

The list of people acting as judges for the Award and the criteria to be applied is set out on the website at https://www.toleranceday.org.uk. From the entries the judges will select a shortlist of no more than 10 finalists, 5 from each category.

Only shortlisted entrants will be contacted by The Learn2Think Foundation. Shortlisted entrants will be contacted by email by 9th November 2017.

The judges’ decision is final and no negotiations or correspondence with entrants will be entered into.

The winner will receive a DELL Inspiron (or equivalent), have their piece published, place tbd.

The runners up will receive signed copies of books.

The Learn2Think Foundation retains the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

The prizes are non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and are not redeemable for cash or other prizes. The Learn2Think Foundation accepts no responsibility for any costs which are not set out in the Terms and Conditions.

Other terms and conditions:

Winner and runners up may be required for promotional activity.

Material entered will not be returned to senders.

The Learn2Think Foundation accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Award or accepting the prize. The Guardian Foundation further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the Award.

In consideration of The Learn2Think Foundation agreeing to consider their entry, each entrant: (a) grants the Learn2Think Foundation a royalty-free licence to copy, edit, display, publish, broadcast and make available their entry in any format in connection with the Award or promotion of the Award; (b) agrees that The Learn2Think Foundation may publish their name in connection with the use of the entry; (c) warrants that the work submitted with their entry is their own or the relevant team’s original work, that it is not defamatory and that it shall not infringe any third-party rights including, without limitation, privacy; and (d) agrees that The Learn2Think Foundation may grant to its partners and/or associated companies a sub-licence of the rights licensed to Learn2Think under these terms and conditions on such terms as The Learn2Think Foundation shall agree in its sole discretion.

The Learn2Think Foundation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Learn2Think Young Journalist Award or any feature thereof with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control (including, without limitation, in the case of anticipated, suspected, or actual fraud).

The Learn2Think Young Journalist Award and these terms and conditions shall be governed by English law under the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts